The umbrella body for evangelical groups within the Church of England demanded yesterday that attempts to compromise with the government's civil partnerships legislation should be withdrawn.

It attacked a recommendation by bishops that clergy would be allowed to enter such partnerships but must abstain from sexual relations.

The Evangelical Council accused the hierarchy of bowing to a culture in moral decline. It added: "We urge the House of Bishops to withdraw this compromised and unworkable statement while continuing to affirm the historic teaching of the church ... It will further exacerbate the division threatening the future of the Anglican communion."

A conservative evangelical group, Anglican Mainstream, attacked wording changes which would give bereaved partners the same rights as spouses to remain in church-owned homes for two months after the death of an ordained partner.

The group insisted that any such move should have been debated in the synod rather than being endorsed by the bishops and church lawyers.

The legislation is intended to give some civic rights to same sex couples, and the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement has claimed that several hundred clergy may want to take advantage.